Machine for setting-up box blanks



y 1952 D. LEVKOFF,

MACHINE FOR SETTING-UP BOX BLANKS 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 7, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

fiarwd Zwlrof/ May 27, 1952 D, LEVKOFF MACHINE FOR SETTING-UP BOX BLANKS l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

fi7'r0RNI'K IiWU May 27, 1952 D. LEVKOFF MACHINE FOR SETTING-UP BOX BLANKS l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 7, 1948 INVENTOR. flan/id Ll/Kflff y 1952 D. LEVKOFF MACHINE FOR SETTING -UP' BOX BLANKS 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 7, 1948 y 1952 D. LEVKOFF MACHINE FOR SETTING-UP BOX BLANKS 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 7, 1948 mmvroa. flaw'd [wimf/ May 27, 1952 I D. LEVKOFF 2,598,569 Q MACHINE FOR SETTING-UP BOX BLANKS Filed Feb. 7, 1948v l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 FAaZfl. INVENTOR.

9 Jaw)! Z evrlf 0/) 85' I I '5 01 mm! y 1952 D. LEVKOFF MACHINE FOR SETTING-UP BOX BLANKS l0 SheetS- -Shet '7 Filed Feb. '7, 1948 L llllltblll|l|ll m Ni M y v1952 D. LEVKOFF 2,598,569

MACHINE FOR SETTING-UP BOX BLANKS Y Filed Feb. 7, 194a 1o Sheets-Sheet 8 Q! INVENTOR.

May 27, 1952 D. LEVKOFF MACHINE FOR SETTING-UP BOX BLANKS 1O Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 7, 1948 I INVENTOR, flax/I'd Lew-ka f WM JTJWM M y 1952 D. LEVKOFF MACHINE FOR SETTING-UP BOX BLANKS 1'0 Sheets$heet 10 Fild Feb. 7, 1948 Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,598,569 :MACHINE FOR SETTlNG-U'PBOX-BLAN-KS David Levkoflf, "Great'N'eek, N. Y. ApplicationFebruary v, 194s,=sena1m.-,e04

Claims.

. .1 This invention is an improved apparatus for setting up folded articles of sheet material of such formation as to be adapted for useas boxes or cartons for merchandise; and thus produce cartons or receptacles by'bending and securing this type that .is simplerin construction, contains fewer parts, all of which coact with greater efiiciency, and is capable of operating more rapidly and give a larger output.

The objects and advantages of the invention are all made clear in the following description and the novel features are pointed out in the appended claims. But this specification discloses only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and changes may of course be made without deviation from the general plan or design by which the invention is distinguished.

On the drawings,

Figurel is a front View of an apparatusaccording to this invention, seen from the plane of line i--l on Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a side viewthereof.

Figure 3 is a front View of same, 7

Figure 4 is a top view thereof, the hopper and driving motor and connectionsbeing omitted.

Figure5 is a side view of the upper portion, on an enlarged scale, seen from a plane marked by line 55 in Figure 3. I

Figure 6 is a top plan, partly in section onlin E6 in Figure '7 of the connections for actuating the bending levers.

Figure 7 is a vertical section on line L4 in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation on an enlarged scale of some of the parts at the top of Figure 5.

Figures 9, 10 and llare detail views of some of the operating connections.

Figures 12 and 13 are top and side views of a blank to be transformed into a finished box with my invention.

Figure 14 is a side view of such a box in its finished state.

.2 Figures '15 to 20 inclusive are'side-oredge views of folded or collapsed boxes in successive stages as they are worked in 'thepractice of my invention.

Figure 21 is a sectional view through one end of such a box fully completed.

Figure 22isa front elevation showing a different apparatus incorporating .my invention, the view being from line 22-22 in Figure 23.

Figure 23 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 23a shows a detail thereof. v Figure 24 is a top plan, the-hopper and driving motor being omitted.

Figures 25, '26 and 27 showo'ther details of this apparatus, Figure 27 being a section along line 21-527 on-Figure 28. V

Figure 28 is a section on line 2828 of Figure 22. I

Figure 29 is an elevation viewed from the side opposite to'thatshownin Figure 23.

Figure 30 is a front elevation of thestruc'tur shown in Figure 29. I

Figure 31 is a section on line 3l-3I of Figure 30; and

Figures 32 and 33 show further details of this embodiment of the invention.

Numeral l indicates a vertical supply hopper of any suitable construction. It. is open at the top and bottom and closed at the sides, but open at both front and rear. The sides have ribs or flanges along both their vertical edges, with the flanges at the front presented to the flanges at the back to prevent displacement of the folded boxes 2 edgewise from said hop-per. This hopper is loaded with a number of such cardboard boxes 2, which are impelled and displaced flatwis'e through the open lower or discharge end thereof as they are delivered to the apparatus; and at the bottom the hopper h'as fixed converging extensions or bending members '3, one of which is attached to ,each side of the same. The members 3'support and connected along score lines to end sections that are adapted to be bent upward when the blank is Worked into its final state and all parts thereof are set up in their intended positions.

To effect the delivery of the folded boxes 2 from the hopper -l, I employ pneumatic means comprising a pair of suction cup members 6 final shape.

which are mounted upon a cross bar or member I which moves up and down in the framework 4. This movement is permitted because the ends of the cross bar 1 engage vertical channelled guide bars 8 at the two sides of the machine; and when the suction cups are in contact with the lowermost blank in the hopper l and evacuated of air, the downward movement of the guide bar! will pull the blank directly engaged by these cups out of the hopper and bring the end sections into contact with the converging extensions 3. This causes the end sections to be bent upward in the manner required, and the parts for the sides of the box are set up at this stage. In the further operation of the machine the end sections are engaged by pivoted arms 9 disposed to move through recesses ID in the bending extensions 3 at the two sides of the machine; and by these arms they are bent further in such a manner as to secure the ends and sides permanently in vertical position with respect to the bottom of the box, which thus receives its Then each box is engaged by a discharge conveyor in the form of a sprocket chain ll having projections l2. As the conveyor runs the projections l2 impel each box outward from the front of the machine where it can drop into a basket or other receptacle for receiving it.

The framework 4 of the machine has any suitable design and comprises a base l3 upon which are uprights or posts connected by cross bars for stiffening the structure, and conveniently mounting the various actuating parts. On the base I3 is an electric motor l4, the shaft l5 of which carries a grooved pulley l6 engaging a belt 11. This belt passes over a similar pulley ion a shaft I9 mounted in the casing 20 of a speed reducing unit which has a driven shaft 2| projecting to the exterior of the casing 20 and carrying a pulley 22. This pulley drives a similar pulley 22 on a shaft 24 above it through the agency of a belt 23, the shaft 24 being supported in bearings 25 at the sides of the machine and carrying a sprocket gear 26. Above the shaft 24 is a shorter shaft 21 parallel thereto and carrying a, sprocket gear 28 connected to the gear 26 by a chain 29. On the shaft 21 is a rigid crank disk 30 having a crank arm 3| pivotally connected to the transverse bar 1 by link 32, thislink being connected to the arm 3! by a pin 33 and to the bar 1 at the middle by a pin or bolt 34. The motor will therefore transmit power to the shaft 21, which will act through the crank disk 30 to shift the bar 1 and the suction cups up and down.

The belt I! driven by the motor [4 also passes over a gear 35 on the shaft of a pump 31 secured in the framework 4. To this pump leads a pipe 38 which has a pair of nipples 39 and is also joined to a casing 49 having a controlling valve therein. The nipples 39 are each united by a length of flexible tubing 6a to one of the two sections of piping 6' which carry the suction cups 6 at their upper ends. These pipes 6' are afiixed to the bar I by lateral horizontal arms la attached to the bar 1 in any suitable manner and adjustably mounted in horizontal slots lb in the bar or member 1. The valve in the casing 40 is operated by a cam 4| on the shaft 2'! through a pivoted arm 42 having a roller 43 in its outer end in contact with the cam and pressing upon the outer end of the stem 44 of the valve. The pump works continuously and as long as the valve in the casing 44 is shut the cups 6 will be evacuated. When the cam 4| depresses the arm 42, the valve of the casing 49 will be open and the pressure in the tubing 6a. and the cups 6 will then become equal to the pressure of the atmosphere. The cam is so timed that the force of suction is exerted to pull the blanks 2 down, and the cam 4! opens the valve in the casing 45 when the downward movement of each folded box is terminated and the formation of a box accomplished; so that the vacuum cups will release the boxes when the discharge of the latter from the machine is ready to start. The shaft of the pump is indicated at 35.

The pumping out of the cups 5 of course unbalances the air pressure on the folded boxes, and the downward pressure of the atmosphere thereon is the real unbalanced force that impels the folded boxes through the open bottom of the hopper and carries their end sections into engagement with the bending members 3. Of course a different number of cups can be utilized.

The arms 9 swinging through the openings It at the lower ends of the extensions 3 are mounted on pivots 45 on bars 46. The movement of each arm is produced by a lever 41 mounted on a pivot or journal 48 and connected to the arm 9 by a link 49. The ends of each bar or plate 45 are rigidly connected in any suitable manner to two plates 50 in which the journal 48 is mounted. At the side of each journal 48 is another journal 5! that is mounted in the plates 58 and carries a gear 5'2. This gear meshes with a smaller gear on each shaftg tS. Each gear 52 is connected to a rack bar 54 havin teeth 55, this bar being mounted in vertical position and operated upward and downward. The downward movement of the bars causes the arms 9 to swing toward each other and the upward movement withdraws the arms 9. The bars move in guides 56 supported above the level of the shafts 48 and 5|, and the downward movement thereof is produced by electromagnetic coils 57, one at each side of the hopper I, to turn both gears 52 and 53, the latter being rigid with arm 41.

Each two plates 50 connected at one end by the bar 45 are also bridged at the opposite end by a plate 58, and at the top of each plate 58 and secured rigidly in position in any suitable man ner is a bracket 59 to which the guide 56 is made fast. Each bar 46 and associated plates 54 and 58 make a box-shaped frame carrying the shafts 48 and 5| and the gears 52 and 53. Each bracket 59 has the shape of a horizontal U with the guide 56 attached to one arm and the other arms supporting frames or casings 65 of the magnets 51. These magnets may have any suitable shape but are preferably solenoids with armature cores 6| projecting from the tops. The upper ends of those cores 6| are rigidly united to bars 62 rigidly secured to the upper ends of the racks 54. The tops of the cores are recessed to receive the arms 62 and are pinned or riveted thereto. Springs 54' secured to the lower ends of the bars 54 and to the guides 55 normally hold the rack bars 54 in raised positions, and the arms 9 retracted as in Figure 3.

In practice the magnets are energized whenever the bar I drops to such position as to make the operation of the arms 9 necessary. For this purpose the circuit of the magnets is controlled by a movable terminal 63 therein, carried by the bar 1 into engagement with a stationary terminal 64 in the circuit when the bar 1 is down 5 far enou-ghj for -the arms '9 "to operate. "See Figures-I and 3. A'ny other controlling device may be employed. Thetrmina164, suitably insulated, is' attac'h'ed' to theffamework 4.

The 'arms 9 can be adjusted with respect to the extensions 3 to have *themost efficient action'on' the end sectionsof-the blanks 2. For this purpose a cross bar *65 is mounted at the front of the machine projecting at both sides. Below each "end of this bar 65 'are 'twc shorter bars- 66' connected to the bah 65 by spacing elements' fi'i -andfl. The-bar BE 'W ith-tI'ie bars 56 and-the' elements B1 and-"68 thus' provides a hortamer-rectangular frame attne top of the machine; and -at each side. Each frame carries an "adjusting" rod 89' with a squared end 1B. This rdd has" threaded engagenient with the adjacent '12'will beshifted towards or'from the extensions -3; the spacing elements 67 and 68 being rigid with the bars 65 and 66.

Each'o'f the frames carrying the arms -9 has a lateral extension 58a which is; part 'of the plate '58,a'n'dthis extension is "secured to'the block it! by bolts or"others'uitablefastening means. Each frame with thegeafs for o'perating the arms 9 may rest upon suitable supports on top of the framework 4, and "whenever the rods 69 are turned each frame will be moved along the top of the framework 4 until'the arms 9 reach the position desired.

To operate the conv'eyer "for discharging the set-up box from the 'machine the shaft 24 carries also atone side ofthe framework 4a sprocket 13 connected to a similar-sprocket above it by a chain 1-4. The upper sprocket T3 is mounted on a shaft 15 supported-in bearings on'the framework 4 and having'agear 16. This gear meshes with a similar gear 15 mounted on a similar shaft is supporte'd'in bracket "H" on the framework 4 and rigid with a sprocket T9. The sprocket l9 is connected-to another sprocket '89, on a shaft 8| supported in bearings at the top of a bracket 82 affixed to the front of the framework, by a chain 83. The shaft 8| carries sprocket gears 84 connected by chains 85 to sprockets 86 on a shaft 81. The chains 85 carry projections 12 and the shaft 85 is supported upon bearings carried by a yoke 88, the lower end of which has a slot '89 and secured by bolts 90 to a cross bar 9| on the frame 4. The position of the sprockets 855 can thus be adjusted. Likewise the bracket 82 may have 'a slot 92 in its lower end and be held in place by one or more bolts 93 in said slot to enable the bracket 82 to be adjusted as may be required.

The folded boxes 2 are made of folded sheet material bent along parallel lines to make three layers of equal width. The layers adjacent the edges are glued together to make the bottom; and the central layer on top will be out along the middle longitudinally as indicated at 95. See Figures 12 and 13. When the portions of the top layer on both sides of line 95 are bent upward '6 they make the sides: 95%! theboxpa ndthe other two -la'yers *form the bottom. The structure is fully described-in my aforesaid Patent No. 2,342,551. The box has transverse creases or score lines '96 marking 'the end sections 100- in double-layers carrying flaps '98 'and '93, which are folded down when the blanks go into-the hopper. Attheextremities of the cut-in the 'top' layers of the-sections I00 are folding flaps l0! that'connect the sides tot-he'end sections I 00 and-are adapted to be laid'again'st-the inner faces of the end sections when 'thebox is set up. In the-bottom of thebox'are apertures 1'02 for the insertion-of 'theends of-the-flaps 99 to hold the ends and sides in set-up position.

when the folded boxescome out'of the hopper, being pulleddown by the cups 6, the endsectioxisl'un'a're first-turned upward by the convergin'g extensions or bending members 3. Later when thearms 9 are-operated and swung through the openings 10 in the members 3 they *bend down the flaps 98 and99 from the position shown in'Figure l' 8tothat' shown in Figures 1-9, 20' and 21. The two'flaps'are thus turned into'the box and the flaps BEL-hinged about a score line 91, are forced'to project through holes I02 in the bottom. When the arms 9 are swung back the flaps 8, which'have a transverse hinge line 53 at the middle; are released and take the positions shown in Figures 14,20 and 21. These viewsshow'the boxconipleted-and ready to be filled and wrapped.

The contacts 63. and '64 are both insulatably mounted; and are so'a'rranged that the circuit of the magnets 5'! is closed long ,enoughto make certain of the full operation of the arms9.

The modified design of apparatus illustrated in Figures 22 to 33 inclusive'worksin the-same way, but contains mechanical connections instead of electromagnets for actuating the arms "9. An electric motor, not shown, drives the belt IT to turn the pulley I8 on shaft I9 "of. ther'eduction gearing in the case 20; and operates the air pump, not shown, connected as before to the cups '6. The-shaft 21in the case 20 again carries 'a pulley 22; connec-tedby'a belt 23 to' similar pulley 22 on a shaft 21 in the framework 4. The shaft 21' bears the cam '41 for the valve controlling the pump; and thercrank 30 connected by the link 32 to the bar "I ton-love this bar 'in the guides 8 and the cups '8 up and down. The means "for expelling the finished boxes from the apparatus, instead of chains with projections l2-gcom'pfises reciprocating bars H at the rear, movable-forward and backward; and bearing projections or fingers l2 at their forward ends.

The shaft 2"! projects from one side of the machine and carries on its'outer end afixed cam l3l, that periodically lifts a vertical rod 132-, mounted in a guide or hearing I33 on the framework I. This bearing is fixed to a bracket H on the framework, and the upper end of the rod I32 is pinned to a vertical link I34, that in turn is pinned to a lever I35, rocking on a pivot pin or journal I38 atone side of the framework adjacent the lower end of the hopper I. By means of a link 138 this rock lever is pinned to an arm [30, which is rigid with one end of the adjacent shaft 51 at the same side of the machine for bringing about the actuation, of the associated gears 52 and 53 and causing the levers 9 to swing and bend in the flaps 99 of. the blank as set forth above. This part of the apparatus is the same and works in the same way as the construction illustrated in detail on Figures '6 and 7, except that the mag nets are replaced by the-links and levers. The rod 7 I32 has a roller I39 engaging the cam I3I, and a spring I49 encircles the rod I32, being afiixed to the bracket H and a projection 54a on the rod I32.

Rigid with the rocker I36 is an upright arm I4I,in line with the journal or pivot I36, with its upper end pinned to a cross link I42. On the opposite side of the apparatus is a bellcrank lever I43,supported by a similar pivot I36 on a post I44. The link I42 is also pinned to the upper arm of the lever I43, and the lower arm of this lever is joined by a link I38 to a similar arm I39, which is rigid with the shaft 5I on that side; the shaft 5| bearing a gear 53 engaging a gear 52 to operate levers arranged in the same way as before to actuate the adjacent arm 9. The arms I39 are so joined to the links I33 and to the levers I35 and I43 that, when the rod I32 is pushed upward by the cam I3I, the gears 52 and 53 in the boxshaped frames similar to those already described, cause the actuation of the levers 9 as required.

The shaft 21' also carries adjacent the cam 39' another cam I45, which pushes against a rod I46, mounted in a bearingl41 on the framework 4. The other end of the rod I46 is pinned to a rocker I48, pivoted at I49 on the framework 4, and extending upward; having a notch I59 in its upper end to receive a cross-bar I5I. This bar is fastened to the ends of the rods I I, which reciprocate in bearings I52. Hence movement of the bar I46 by the cam I45 will urge the rods II forward. The bar I46 is returned by a spring I53, attached at one end to a projection I54 on hearing I41 and to a pin I55 on the bar I46.

In the framework 4, parallel with the shaft 21' is another shaft I56 bearing a pulley I51. This pulley is connected to a pulley I51 on the shaft 21 by a belt I58 and is thus driven by the shaft 21. The pulley I51 has two grooves, one for the belt I58 and the other for a vertical belt I59 which couples the shaft I56 to a horizontal shaft I69 by means of a pulley IEI, the shaft I69 extending across the framework at the top thereof. The shaft I6I carries a roller I62, which cooperates with a parallel roller I62 at the same level and mounted on a bracket I63 having a slot I64 in its lower end to be adjustably secured by a bolt I65 to the framework 4. See Figures 26 and 28. The rollers I62 carry discharge belts or bands I66, in grooves I51. The numeral I68 shows a pin-and-slot connection between the lever I43 and link I42.

The distance between the arms 9 is made adjustable by mounting the arms 9 in box-shaped or square frames of the type shown in Figures 6 and '7, and comprising the sides 46, 59 and 58, so that one of said square frames, for example the one at the right side in Figure 22 is fixed to the framework 4 stationary, while the other frame can be shifted. The box-shaped frames are also shown in Figures 24 and 31. Adjacent the front side of the one at the left is a vertical transversely extending frame comprising superposed top and bottom horizontal bars 65' and 66 respectively, joined rigidly at the ends by spacers 61 and I38. See Figures 24, 30 and 31. These bars and spacers are fixed on the framework 4. A threaded rod or bolt 69 is mounted in the spacers 61 and 58 as before, but turns loosely in openings bored in these spacers. The bolt is held against movement lengthwise by washers 13 at the end mounted in the spacer 68, the washers being in contact with both the inner and outer faces of this spacer. The back 58 of the adjacent box-shaped frame has an extension 58a,

as before; with an opening throughwhich the bolt 69 loosely passes. On the bolt is a square block or cross head 12, with a threaded aperture for the bolt, and this cross head is bolted to extension 58a. The head 12 is engaged and held against turning by the bars 65' and 66. The top of the frame bearing the arm 9 rests loosely on the top of the framework 4. Hence turning the bolt by means of its square end 19 will move the arm and its associated parts towards or from the arm 9 at the opposite side of the machine. The framework is affixed at its end carrying the arm 9 to a shoe I11, having a projection I18 at one end with a slot I19. The shoe is placed beneath the box-shaped frame and the projection I18 is attached adjustably to the adjacent side piece 59. The forward edge of the shoe shown at I 89 projects to a slight extent. This shoe slidably engages the top of the framework 4 and by means of it the horizontal position of the frame can be set as desired.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

1. Apparatus for setting up folded boxes having end sections with transverse fold lines thereon, said sections having inwardly foldable flaps, the apparatus comprising a hopper containing said folded boxes, converging members adjacent each side of the hopper, means for displacing said folded boxes successivelyfrom said hopper with their opposite end sections in contact with said converging members so that said end sections are thereby turned up along said fold lines, a pivoted means adjacent each of said converging members movable to engage said foldable end flaps and bend said flaps inwardly into position against the turned up end sections, and mechanism for operating said pivoted means.

2. Apparatus for setting up folded boxes having end sections with transverse fold lines thereon and upwardly foldable end flaps, the apparatus comprising an upright hopper containing said folded boxes, said hopper being open at its lower end, converging members adjacent each side of the hopper at said open end, pneumatic means for causing imbalanced air pressure to be exerted upon said folded boxes to displace them downward successively from said hopper with their opposite end sections in contact with said members, so that said sections comprising said flaps are turned up along said fold lines, a pivoted means adjacent each of said members toengage said foldable end flaps and bend said flaps inwardly into position against said turned up end sections, and mechanism for operating said pivoted means.

3. Apparatus for setting up folded boxes having end sections with transverse fold lines thereon, said sections having inwardly foldable flaps, the apparatus comprising a hopper containing said folded boxes, converging members adjacent each side of the hopper, means for displacing said folded boxes successively from said hopper with their opposite end sections in contact with said converging members so that said end sections are thereby turned up along said fold lines, a pivoted means adjacent each of said converging members movable to engage said foldable end flaps and bend said flaps inwardly into position against the turned up end sections, and mechanism for operating said pivoted means, said mechanism comprising an electromagnet for each of said pivoted means, an armature having rack teeth for each electromagnet, gearing actuated by said armatures when the electromagnets attract said armatures, and terminals controlled by the displacing means to close and open the circuit for said electromagnets.

4. Apparatus for setting up folded boxes having end sections with transverse fold lines thereon, said sections having inwardly foldable' flaps, the apparatus comprising a hopper containing said folded boxes, converging members adjacent each side of the hopper, means for displacing said folded boxes successively from said hopper with their opposite end sections in contact with said converging members so that said end sections are thereby turned up along said fold lines, a pivoted means adjacent each of said converging members movable to engage said foldable end flaps and bend said flaps inwardly into position against the turned up end sections, and mechanism for operating said pivoted means, said apparatus having means for adjusting at least one of said pivoted means with respect to the sides of the hopper.

5. Apparatus for setting up folded boxes having end sections with transverse fold lines thereon, said sections having inwardly foldable flaps, the apparatus comprising a hopper containing said folded boxes, converging members adjacent each side of the hopper, means for displacing said folded boxes successively from said hopper with 10 their opposite end sections in contact with said converging members so that said end sections are thereby turned up along said fold lines, a pivoted means adjacent each of said converging members movable to engage said foldable end flaps and bend said flaps inwardly into position against the turned up end sections, and mechanism for operating said pivoted means, said mechanism comprising links and levers connected to said means, a reciprocating rod to actuate said links and levers, and a shaft having a cam to operate rod.

DAVID LEVKOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,746,835 Jones Feb. 11, 1930 1,989,286 Milmoe Jan. 29, 1935 2,464,407 Levkofi Mar. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 432,823 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1935 

